Author: Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland. His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing. Email Ray Hanania at [email protected]. Follow RayHanania at Twitter

Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications

January 23, 2023January 23, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications Applications are now open for programs that promote economic development, public services and transportation improvements throughout the County The Cook County Board of Commissioners and President Toni Preckwinkle announced a call for applications for the Department of Transportation and Highway’s (DoTH) “Invest in Cook” grant…

Business, Chicago, construction, Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

New Secretary of State reaffirms rejection of inappropriate license plates

January 23, 2023January 23, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

New Secretary of State reaffirms rejection of inappropriate license plates Secretary of State Giannoulias reveals rejected vanity plates in 2022 Small percentage prohibited for violating the state’s vehicle code There will be no PEEPEE, SUKIT or DUCKYOU for Illinois drivers. Those are just a few of the nearly 400 requests for vanity and personalized license…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Arrest and Criminal Charges Announced Against British and Russian Businessmen for Facilitating Sanctions Evasion of Russian Oligarch’s $90 Million Yacht

January 23, 2023January 23, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arrest and Criminal Charges Announced Against British and Russian Businessmen for Facilitating Sanctions Evasion of Russian Oligarch’s $90 Million Yacht Yacht Previously Seized and One Subject Arrested Today by Spain at Request of United States Two businessmen, Vladislav Osipov, 51, a Russian national, and Richard Masters, 52, a United Kingdom national, are charged in separate…

Crime, Federal, Law, News, Ukraine

Chicago Man Convicted of Participating in Illegal Kickback Conspiracy

January 23, 2023January 23, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Man Convicted of Participating in Illegal Kickback Conspiracy A federal jury in the Northern District of Illinois convicted a Chicago man yesterday for participating in a conspiracy to pay approximately $25 million in illegal kickbacks to generate business for his durable medical equipment pharmacy. According to evidence presented at trial, Mark Sorensen, 53, worked…

Chicago, Crime, Federal, Health, National, News, Police, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Father dispossessed of his children, and apparently alienated, gains their return to Illinois

January 21, 2023January 21, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Father dispossessed of his children, and apparently alienated, gains their return to Illinois A father had two little boys, ages 9 and 6. Unfortunately, he recently broke up with their mother. Last summer, the mother took the children to her family’s home in Mississippi. The dad thought they were on vacation, but when school started…

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas refunding more than $47 million to homeowners

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas refunding more than $47 million to homeowners More than 53,000 property owners who overpaid their First Installment taxes last year will automatically get back more than $47 million in refunds starting this week. “If you have a refund coming, we’ll find you and return your money,” Pappas said. “By putting…

Cook County, Government, News, Taxes

Buckner unveils plan to help businesses and strengthen job

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Buckner unveils plan to help businesses and strengthen job Kam Buckner releases Economic Opportunity & Recovery Plan prioritizing business development, jobs & training programs & investing more in neighborhoods that need it Continuing to far outpace his rivals, candidate for mayor Kam Buckner today released his ninth policy plan, proving once again that he is…

Business, Chicago, News

Buckner slams Garcia, Johnson and Lightfoot for Crypto hypocrisies, supports probes

January 18, 2023January 18, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Buckner slams Garcia, Johnson and Lightfoot for Crypto hypocrisies, supports probes Kam Buckner Slams Chuy García, Brandon Johnson & Mayor Lightfoot for Crypto Cop-outs, Supports City Council Resolution for Investigation Into Crypto Fraud Victims of crypto fraud held a press conference Wednesday with Ald. Byron Sigcho- Lopez (25th) as he introduced a resolution for the…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, Government, News, Politics

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias releases comprehensive Transition Team report

January 17, 2023January 17, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias releases comprehensive Transition Team report Report serves as a road map to modernize the office, transform operations, and upgrade services Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias today released his Transition Team’s report that will serve as a blueprint for modernizing the office, transforming operations and expanding services to best serve…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Field Museum Welcomes Green Activist Naomi Davis to Kick off Black History Month Events

January 16, 2023January 16, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Field Museum Welcomes Green Activist Naomi Davis to Kick off Black History Month Events February events include dance performances and a behind-the-scenes look at Africa collections A talk with “The Queen of Green” Naomi Davis will launch a month of events at the Field Museum celebrating Black History Month. The schedule includes panels, performances, and…

News

Pritzker’s assault weapons ban not enough to make law abiding citizens safe

January 16, 2023February 3, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pritzker’s assault weapons ban not enough to make law abiding citizens safe Pritzker’s assault weapons ban is not about making law abiding citizens safer, but rather appealing to his voter constituency and the far left which seeks to decriminalize accountability for criminals while holding police to a higher standard. The assault weapons ban basically takes…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Vallas urges probe in Lightfoot’s CPD scandal and accuses of Congressman Garcia of being AWOL from Chicagoland needs

January 16, 2023January 16, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Vallas urges probe in Lightfoot’s CPD scandal and accuses of Congressman Garcia of being AWOL from Chicagoland needs Chicago Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas calls for broader investigation into Mayor Lightfoot’s misuse of City Resources after new revelation on CPD Deployment. CPD Exempt Officers were ordered to go Door to Door instead of Doing Police Work. And…

Chicago, elections, Government, News, Politics, Taxes

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot must go

January 15, 2023February 3, 2023 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot must go Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has failed to achieve any of her campaign promises from four years. In fact, under her leadership, she has made Chicago worse, failing to crackdown on rampaging crime or speaking out against those who enable the criminals like Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx or…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, women

Kam Buckner slams Mayor Lightfoot for ethical violations and pushing CPS to support her candidacy

January 12, 2023January 12, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Kam Buckner slams Mayor Lightfoot for ethical violations and pushing CPS to support her candidacy Lori Lightfoot Plays Political Patronage Game, Asks CPS Teachers, Students to Support Re-Election Campaign in a Massive Ethical Violation and Abuse of Power Lori Lightfoot’s political campaign sent an email to CPS teachers’ government email addresses asking them to recruit…

Chicago, Crime, elections, News, Politics, Taxes

Paul Vallas demands Lightfoot explain email scandal, and use of government resources for political campaign

January 12, 2023January 12, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Paul Vallas demands Lightfoot explain email scandal, and use of government resources for political campaign Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas on Thursday called on Mayor lightfoot to explain two growing public scandals in her administration. The first is to explain the recent ethics breach involving her emails, and the other is to account for the use…

Chicago, Crime, Education, elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Politics

Illinois tackling harmful Lake Michigan shoreline erosion at Illinois Beach State Park

January 12, 2023January 13, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois tackling harmful Lake Michigan shoreline erosion at Illinois Beach State Park Two projects aim to curb erosion of beach and natural habitats Two ground-breaking projects underway at Illinois Beach State Park will help protect precious shoreline from erosion caused by Lake Michigan waves and inform future decisions about how to blunt the effects of…

Chicago, Environment, Features, News, Regional Midwest

Milwaukee County sells 90 lots for single family homes

January 11, 2023January 11, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Milwaukee County sells 90 lots for single family homes Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Celebrates City Zoning Committee Moving Forward the Sale of 90 Lots for Single Family Homes in the King Park Neighborhood The City of Milwaukee Common Council Zoning, Neighborhood and Development Committee on Tuesday (Jan. 10, 2023) approved the sale of 90…

construction, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Lyons co-hosts Three Kings Festival with Commissioner Aguilar

January 9, 2023January 9, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lyons co-hosts Three Kings Festival with Commissioner Aguilar Cook County Board Commissioner Frank Aguilar partnered with Lyons Village President Chris Getty on Friday (Jan. 6, 2023) to co-host the annual Three Kings Day commemoration. The commemoration was celebrated by distributing wrapped new toys and gifts to young children of needy families in Lyons Township and…

Chicago, Cook County, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, Government, News, Village of Lyons